Background: Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen and
nitrogen species is critically involved in the impairment of β -cell function
during the development of diabetes.

Methods. HIT-T15 cells were cultured in 5% CO2 and then
preincubated with Gelam honey extracts (20, 40, 60, and 80 µg/mL) as well as
quercetin (20, 40, 60, and 80 µM), prior to stimulation by 20 and 50 mM of
glucose. Cell lysate was collected to determine the effect of honey extracts
and quercetin on the stress activated NF- κ B, MAPK pathways, and the Akt
(ser473) activated insulin signaling pathway.